Blaq Lyte

This neon-lit Thonglor club is all about hip-hop bangers.

The buzz: Bad Motel hasn't been this popping since its 2012 hey-day. That's thanks to the party crew behind pop-up events from Ari to RCA who have taken over the Thonglor bar's second floor and filled it with neon vibes, a modern hip-hop soundtrack and people who say words like “lit” and “turnt” in real-life conversation. However, Blaq Lyte is a nightclub with a difference: it also raises money for owner Nick Supreda’s orphan charity, 32 Foundation (read our interview here).

The decor: Little more than a rectangular room with a bar at one end, a few tables and a DJ booth plopped down seemingly at random, leaving plenty of room to dance. As opposed to Beam across the road, this club goes for a down-and-out feel, with crumbly pink and aqua walls scrawled with sharpie writing and hologram stickers, a lone mirror-ball and garish lighting they say is inspired by late-night tuk tuk rides.

The drinks: Hard liquor and mixers with the purpose of getting you drunk. Vodka, gin, whiskey and tequila come in at B250/glass and B600/bucket with your choice of cola, soda or tonic. A bottle of Tanqueray gin is B2,500 while a bottle of Beluga vodka is B3,500. Thai beers are B200 and international craft beers are B300.

The crowd: Cool, young things in painfully on-point streetwear; like what you see at 72 Courtyard turned up to 11.

Why we would go back: While most clubs are seemingly stuck in rut of deep, dark techno, Blaq Lyte's Dayglo look and hip-hop sound feels very much of the moment. The social impact nightclub model is a nice touch, too. Choltanutkun Tun-atiruj